The Giant Schnauzer, also for a time known as the Russian Bear Schnauzer, the Munich Schnauzer the Munchener, the Munchen Dog and the Riesenschnauzer (which translates as “giant”), is a large, intelligent, loyal and sometimes headstrong breed developed in Germany hundreds of years ago. The first Giant Schnauzer was shown in Munich in 1909 under the breed name of the Russian Bear Schnauzer. The Giant Schnauzer was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930, as a member of the Working Group.
The height of adult male Giant Schnauzers should be 25½ to 27½ at the withers, and of the female 23½ to 25½ inches at the withers, with mid-range being considered ideal. They typically weigh between 65 and 100 pounds, with females usually being slightly smaller and lighter than males. The Giant Schnauzer’s coat is hard, wiry and dense, with a soft under-layer and a harsh outer coat that lays neither smooth nor flat. It should be pure black or pepper-and-salt in color, and must be hand-stripped several times yearly to remove dead hair. The Schnauzer’s coarse topknot, stubby moustache, wiry beard and bushy eyebrows are hallmarks of the breed. It used to be common for their ears to be cropped, but increasingly they are left in their natural state.
The Giant Schnauzer is the most recently developed of three distinct breeds that all have their origin in the agricultural areas of neighboring Wurttemberg and Bavaria, where they were used to help shepherds with sheep, cattle and other livestock as far back as the 1500s. Since there were no railroads at that time, the Schnauzer was particularly helpful in driving flocks and herds to market. The mid-sized Schnauzer, now known as the Standard Schnauzer, was
The personality of the Giant Schnauzer can vary from dog to dog. Some are high strung, some are laid back and easy going, some love everybody, others don't like new people. The key to raising a happy and well-adjusted Giant Schnauzer lies in commitment to exercise and training from an early age. Properly trained Schnauzer make excellent family pets – reliable with children, properly mannered with strangers, respectful of boundaries. Improperly trained and exercised Schnauzers
Giant Schnauzers are large, powerful but compact dogs who, just as the name suggests, are large versions of the standard Schnauzer. They have a harsh, wiry outer coat and they sport the trademark Schnauzer eyebrows, whiskers and beard. They have black noses and oval-shaped, dark brown eyes. The ears may or may not be cropped, but tail is customarily docked to the second or third joint. Giant Schnauzers come in either solid black or salt
The saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Check out the many different Giant Schnauzer Pictures and Giant Schnauzer images. Get an in depth look at the Giant Schnauzer and see the many things that this breed has to offer.